5 Ways to Make your Home More Family Friendly

When you decide to start a family, as well as the obvious preparations you need to do, you’ve also got to start thinking about how you can make your house more family friendly too. It might be the case that right now, you have no idea what you should be doing to make your home more family friendly, but that’s okay because, by the time you have finished reading this article you will... hopefully!

Bedrooms / Nursery

If you’re expecting right now then this is the best time to start preparing for a newborn by starting on the nursery. Even if you aren't planning on creating a nursery, it's a good idea to dedicate an area in your room for baby furniture and items. Make sure you have enough room for everything you need and try not to get sucked into buying too much - a changing table looks nice, but in reality a changing mat on the floor is more likely to be used! 

Stair Gates

If you have smaller children then you’re certainly going to need to add stair gates to your home. These ensure that your children can’t just wander up and down the stairs whenever they want, making sure that they are safe. These should ideally be placed at the top and bottom of the stairs to stop little ones from getting access to the stairs from both ends. It might be a good idea to add a stair gate to the child's bedroom too to stop any late night wanderings!

Baby-Proofing

All sharp things should be well and truly out of reach of any children. Something as simple as leaving scissors on the table could be a disaster if they fall into the wrong hands, and as you never know when your kids are going to start getting adventurous, it's best to get into good habits from the start. Ensure that all harmful objects and products are safely stored in high cabinets too, and if there is anything in lower ones, then there should be child locks on them instead. Look up a guide online to help you cover all the baby-proofing areas!

Playroom

If you are someone who doesn’t want to see toys thrown around the place all the time, then you'll probably want to have a space for them to go into when they want to play or relax. If you have the room then a playroom is a fantastic idea! All of the children's toys can be in this dedicated area, and you don't have to worry about the mess as much either. This could be an area that's decorated by them as well - think about hanging their art around the room, letting let choose the paint colour, and lots of comfy soft furnishings too.

Outdoor Space

Being outside is fun whatever the weather, so it's always a good idea to keep your outdoor space in good, useable condition. Keep the grass mowed and remove harmful weeds or plants, and if there is anything that looks spiky or sharp, pick it up whenever you see it. For the warmer months why not think about a swing set or slide, or even a large paddling pool so they have something to play with? When it's cooler something like a mud kitchen or scooters / ride ons can be enjoyed without the need for sun.

Hopefully you found this article helpful and it's given you some ideas on how to make your home more family friendly!

This is a collaborative post.